How Jesus Dealt with Discouragement
If you have ever looked at your work and been disappointed with the results, you are definitely not the first.Isaiah tells us that even Jesus became discouraged.In fact, in Isaiah 49:4 he says, “I have toiled in vain. I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity.”Wow.If Jesus felt that, how we can expect, there won’t be times when we feel something similar? But fortunately, Isaiah doesn’t only tell us what Jesus felt, he also shows us how he dealt with this discouragement.First, he remembered and rested in the character of God.He said, “Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the Lord. And my reward is with God.”He acknowledged his discouragement but did not stay there. He looked up from his situation to God and actively put His hope in God’s justice and God’s goodness. When we are discouraged, we need to do the same. Are people treating us unfairly? God is just. Does it seem like we are working and nothing is happening? God will reward obedience.Second, he reflected on and delighted in the Word of God.He goes on, “And now says the Lord, who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring back Jacob to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him, (For I am honored in the sight of the Lord and God is My strength.)”We see Jesus meditating on what God has said and in the middle of this meditation, he breaks out in praise and joyful thanksgiving. Did you catch it? “And now says the Lord...For I am honored! And God is My Strength!” He doesn’t only quote the Scripture, here, he takes the Scripture, and appropriately applies it to Himself, and responds to it.Like Jesus, there will often be times in our lives when we become discouraged as we just look at our circumstances and what it looks like is happening, but like Jesus, during those times, after honestly acknowledging our struggle to God, we must remember the character of God, deliberately decide to trust Him, and focus on the promises God has made to us, and apply those promises to our current situation, so that our strength will be renewed in Him.